What we know about the U.S. airstrikes on Syria

U.S. airstrikes on Syria: What we know

Author:
Editors, USA TODAY

Published:
6:22 AM EDT April 14, 2018

Updated:
12:41 AM EDT April 15, 2018

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows the damage of the Syrian Scientific Research Center which was attacked by U.S., British and French military strikes to punish President Bashar Assad for suspected chemical attack against civilians, in Barzeh, near Damascus, Syria, Saturday, April 14.

AP

The U.S. led airstrikes in a coordinated attack with U.K. and French allies against the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad.

Here's what we know about the attack:

What happened?

Precision missile strikes targeted three Syrian chemical weapons facilities: a scientific research center near Damascus, a chemical weapons storage facility west of Homs and a storage facility and command post near Homs. Unleashing 105 missiles, the U.S., British and French forces leveled at least one building and set back the country's chemical weapons program "for years," Pentagon officials said. Trump called it a "perfectly executed strike" in a tweet Saturday.

Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said there was some "activity" by Syrian surface-to-air missiles, but there were no reports of U.S. or allied casualties.

When did it take place?

Why did the U.S. strike?

Trump said the strikes were intended to deter the use of chemical weapons like the attack on civilians in the Syrian town of Douma last week.

Syria has denied using chemical weapons. But Friday night, the White House released what it said was "a significant body of information" that pointed to the use of chlorine gas — and possibly also the deadly nerve agent sarin. That evidence includes victim statements, images of barrel bomb fragments and reliable reports of Syrian government helicopters in the area.

This image released early April 8, 2018 by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, shows a child receiving oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the rebel-held town of Douma, near Damascus, Syria. Syrian rescuers and medics said the attack on Douma killed at least 40 people. The Syrian government denied the allegations, which could not be independently verified. The alleged attack in Douma occurred Saturday night amid a resumed offensive by Syrian government forces after the collapse of a truce.

This gallery contains graphic images.

An image taken from a video released by the Syrian civil defense in Douma shows a volunteer holding an oxygen mask over a child's face at a hospital following a reported chemical attack on the rebel-held town on April 8, 2018.

his image released April 8, 2018 by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, shows a rescue worker carrying a child following an alleged chemical weapons attack in the rebel-held town of Douma, near Damascus, Syria.

An image taken from a video released by the Syrian Civil Defense in Douma, Syria shows unidentified volunteers giving aid to children at a hospital following a reported chemical attack on the rebel-held town on April 8, 2018.

Bodies of victims of an alleged chemical attack lie on the ground in Douma, Syria on April 8, 2018. According to media and local reports, at least 70 people died after a helicopter dropped a barrel bomb allegedly containing Sarin gas, a nerve toxin that kills within minutes of direct inhalation unless treated quickly with an antidote.

01/06

This image released early April 8, 2018 by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, shows a child receiving oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the rebel-held town of Douma, near Damascus, Syria. Syrian rescuers and medics said the attack on Douma killed at least 40 people. The Syrian government denied the allegations, which could not be independently verified. The alleged attack in Douma occurred Saturday night amid a resumed offensive by Syrian government forces after the collapse of a truce.

02/06

This gallery contains graphic images.

03/06

An image taken from a video released by the Syrian civil defense in Douma shows a volunteer holding an oxygen mask over a child's face at a hospital following a reported chemical attack on the rebel-held town on April 8, 2018.

04/06

his image released April 8, 2018 by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, shows a rescue worker carrying a child following an alleged chemical weapons attack in the rebel-held town of Douma, near Damascus, Syria.

05/06

An image taken from a video released by the Syrian Civil Defense in Douma, Syria shows unidentified volunteers giving aid to children at a hospital following a reported chemical attack on the rebel-held town on April 8, 2018.

06/06

Bodies of victims of an alleged chemical attack lie on the ground in Douma, Syria on April 8, 2018. According to media and local reports, at least 70 people died after a helicopter dropped a barrel bomb allegedly containing Sarin gas, a nerve toxin that kills within minutes of direct inhalation unless treated quickly with an antidote.

How successful was the mission?

The attack set Syria's chemical weapons program back "for years," Pentagon officials said.

Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, director of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, told reporters Saturday that the weapons used in the operation were a mix of sea and air-launched missiles fired by U.S., British and French forces and “successfully hit every target.”

A before-and-after look at the Barzah Research and Development Center:

A before-and-after look at the Barzah Research and Development Center in Damascus, Syria, one of three targets of the U.S. precision missile strikes with U.K. and French allies. For more information: https://t.co/V0BcjdlKKqpic.twitter.com/4r5biDzSzi

What happens next?

Syria's President Bashar Assad announced that his country would respond to the allied attack but offered no details. Russia’s U.S. embassy released a statement warning that the airstrikes will “not be left without consequences.” It said that “all responsibility” rests with Washington, London and Paris.

At an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting Saturday, U.S. envoy Nikki Haley, said the U.S. is "locked and loaded" if the Syrian regime is "foolish enough to test our will." Trump has also said the U.S. is prepared to continue the attacks until the Syrian regime stops using chemical weapons.